Born in Solapur in 1967, Douglas John's artistic journey took him through a B.F.A. from Mumbai's prestigious J. J. School of Art (1990) and an M.F.A. from Dr. B. A. M. University, Aurangabad (2009).
The energy and diversity of Mumbai ignited his early inspiration, culminating in his debut solo exhibition, 'Mumbai Déjà vu'. He then delved into themes of devotion with 'Light 'n' Light' and 'In Search of Light,' creating acrylic works that uniquely combined Indian subject matter – such as the simplicity of pilgrims in white, evocative landscapes, and the use of gold to represent enduring faith – with Western painting approaches. A notable element of his style is the intriguing depiction of figures often shown from behind, inviting viewers to ponder their stories.
John's artistic excellence has been recognized with several awards, including the 1993 Maharashtra State Award for his landscape painting, the 'Kala Ratna' National Achievement Award in 2008 for his contributions to art and society, and the National Academy Award in 2019 for his 'Inner Divinity' series.
